For the Wausau Times

STEVENS POINT – Free rapid-results COVID-19 tests continue to be available to community members at all three University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campuses in January.

More than 5,600 screening tests have been administered since this service began Nov. 9 for the public and UW-Stevens Point employees and students.

“We are clearly meeting a need in our communities for this quick, convenient screening test and encourage community members to take advantage of it,” said Tony Babl, University Police chief, who is coordinating the testing sites.

Advance appointments are required for these free tests and must be made at www.doineedacovid19test.com. Because of high demand for this service, same-day appointments cannot be guaranteed.

Testing will continue to be available through Dec. 23, then will resume Jan. 4. Testing is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on this weekly rotation: Wausau – Mondays and Thursdays – UWSP at Wausau fieldhouse at South Seventh and Garfield avenues; Marshfield – Tuesdays – UWSP at Marshfield fieldhouse – enter the PE door; Stevens Point – Wednesdays and Fridays – Champions Hall Multi-Activity Center – enter through Door No. 9 from west lot.

UW-Stevens Point is partnering with all University of Wisconsin System institutions and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make these screening tests available. This federal “surge testing” operation uses Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care tests that provide results within 15 minutes.

“While COVID-19 cases are low on UW-Stevens Point campuses, they have soared in Wisconsin. We are providing this free service in our communities to help identify people who may have the novel coronavirus so we can slow the spread of COVID-19,” Babl said.

For more information, contact the COVID Hotline at covid@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2619.